[5]: 220–22 [4][6]: 147 Work on the Empire Pool began in November 1933, and it was opened on 25 July 1934 by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester.

The sides had 15 massive concrete buttresses and the tops of the ends were glazed with 20 narrow window lights of increasing height from the edges to the centre.

[6]: 148–49 In 1940 the Empire Pool was used to billet several hundred Gibraltarian evacuees who were removed from Gibraltar as the Fortress was extensively reinforced in expectation of heavy Axis attack and possible Invasion.

In October 1976, the Empire Pool was awarded Grade II Listed status, protecting it and recognising it as a building of special architectural interest, technological innovation and virtuosity.

Audiences of 10,000 viewed acts like the Beatles, Cliff Richard & The Shadows, the Monkees, the Hollies, Dusty Springfield, Joe Brown & the Bruvvers, and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich.

The Grateful Dead also performed at Wembley Arena on 31 October 1990 as part of their fall 1990 European concert tour.

[20] A notable attendance record was set in the early 1970s by David Cassidy in his first tour of Great Britain in 1973, when he sold out six performances in one weekend.

[21] The experience and the associated mass hysteria was documented in a TV special called "David Cassidy: Weekend At Wembley".

[25] In September 2014 Universal Music released Live at Wembley Arena, featuring most of the concert of 10 November on CD, vinyl LP and digital format.

[26] A finale from these concerts, "The Way Old Friends Do", is the closing track on ABBA's seventh studio album, Super Trouper.

The shows were filmed and later released as Stripped Live in the U.K. Beyoncé performed there on 10 and 11 November 2003 as part of her Dangerously in Love Tour.

[40] On 7, 8 and 9 March 2019, American musical duo Twenty One Pilots performed three shows at the arena as part of the The Bandito Tour.

[45] On 25 October 2023, Critical Role filmed a live show, titled The Mighty Nein Reunion: Echoes of the Solstice, where they played Dungeons & Dragons.

[48] On 21 June 2024, singer-songwriter IU became the first South Korean female soloist to headline the arena as part of her HEREH World Tour.

[49] On 11 October 2024, Japanese band One Ok Rock performed at the arena for their Premonition World Tour, giving their largest show in the UK since their debut,[50] with a special appearance from Ed Sheeran.

On 12 March 2025, Hong Kong singer-songwriter and actor Ian Chan, a well known member of Cantopop group MIRROR, will begin the first stop of his "Tears" in My Sight solo concert tour.

Top professional riders from the European 6-Day circuit came to London, including Eddy Merckx, Peter Post, Patrick Sercu and many others.

[57] The boxing World Championship bout between then champion Alan Minter and challenger Marvin Hagler, which the latter won, was held at Wembley Arena in 1980.

From 1979 to 1983, indoor speedway was held during the winter, with the riders racing on concrete on a 181-yard track[60] Two NBA basketball exhibition matches were played at the arena in1 October 1993, featuring the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic.

Similar to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, notable Wembley Arena performers are invited to have bronze plaques imprinted with their names and handprints.

On 9 January 2007, Kylie Minogue included her handprints, on the final day of the London leg of her Showgirl Homecoming Tour.

Seven time World Snooker Champion Stephen Hendry added his handprints on 21 January 2007. International country superstar Dolly Parton unveiled her plaque, on the final night of her UK tour, on 25 March 2007.

All four members, Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily were presented with a cast of their hands, which can also be seen in the Square of Fame.

Train services are operated by Chiltern Railways from Wembley Stadium station to London Marylebone and Birmingham.